Tomato skinning machine having radially expandable suction cups



June 1958 B. l. BUCK 2,839,112

- TOMATO SKINNING MACHINE HAVING RADIALLY EXPANDABLE SUCTION CUPS Original Filed March 50, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, BENJAMIN l. BUCK,DECEA 'SED, av H. BEALE ROLLINS, EXECUTOR DES JARDINS,ROBINSON a KEISER HIS ATTORNEYS June 17,1958 B. l. BUCK 2,839,112

TOMATO SKINNING MACHINE HAVING RADIALLY EXPANDABLE SUCTION CUPS Original Filed March 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BENJAMIN I. BUCK, DECEASED, BY H. BEALE ROLLINS,EXECUTOR 3y DES JARDINS,ROBINSON8|KEISER 215 HIS ATTORNEYS June 17, 1958 B. 1. BUCK 2,839,112

TOMATO SKINNING MACHINE HAVING RADIALLY EXFANDABLE SUCTION CUPS Original Filed March 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEWTOR, BENJAMIN I. BUCK,DECEASED, k 5 BY H. BEALE ROLLINS,EXECUTOR} I44 BYDES JARDINS,ROBINSON & KEISER I HIS ATTORNEYS June 17, 1958 B. I. BUCK TOMATO SKINNING MACHINE HAVING RADIALLY EXPANDABLE SUCTION CUPS Original Filed March 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR, BENJAMIN I. BUCK, DECEASED, BY H. BEALE ROLLINS, EXECUTOR BY DES JARDINS, ROBINSON a KEISER HIS ATTORNEYS June 17, 1958 B. I. BUCK TOMATO SKINNING MACHINE HAVING RADIALLY EXPANDABLE SUCTION CUPS Original Filed March 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I HWENYUR, BENJAMIN l. BUCK, DECEASED,

BY H. BEALE ROLLINS, EXECUTOR DES JARDINS,ROBINSON 8 KEISER HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent" TOMATO SKlNNlN G MACHINE HAVING RADI- ALLY EXPANDABLE SUCTION CUPS Benjamin I. Buck, deceased, late of Baltimore, Md., by H. Beale Rollins, executor, Baltimore, Md., assignor of one-half to H. Beale Rollins, Baltimore, Md.

Original application March 30, 1954, Serial No. 419,713. Divided and this application May 17, 1955, Serial No. 509,032

6 Claims. (Cl. 146-48) This invention relates to improvements in tomato skinning machines and has to do, more particularly, with improved means in such machines for preparing the tomato for the skin removal step and for improving the vacuum operated apparatus for effecting removal of th skin.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 419,713, filed March 30, 1954, which application is a continuation-in-part of Patent No. 2,703,124, I dated March 1, 1955.

As fully disclosed in the above-mentioned patent applications, the improved tomato skinning machine includes a device for automatically loading the tomatoes on a conveyor in spaced relation with their stern ends uppermost. This device includes an upwardly inclined reach of the conveyor, the lower end of which is submerged in a float tank into which the tomatoes are dumped preparatory to being cored and skinned. As the tomatoes float in the tank, they are picked up by the flights on the conveyor which lift them from the water and carry them to the horizontal portion of the conveyor on which they are transported to the processing apparatus of the machine. Intermittent drive means is provided for operating the conveyor so that the tomatoes are moved in a step-by-step manner through the machine. As the tomatoes proceed seriatirn through the machine, the stem section of each tomato is removed by a coring knife. Thereafter, the tomatoes pass between upper and lower rotary knives which remove slices of uniform thickness from the top and bottom of the fruit. A reciprocating needle type slitter then slits the skin of each tomato along a meridian line on the posterior face thereof. The tomatoes then pass into a steam chamber where they are steamed to loosen the skin. Upon leaving the steam chamber the tomatoes are preferably sub jected to a spray of cold water to loosen the skin and facilitate its removal. The tomatoes are next slit along a meridian line on the anterior face thereof and simultaneously subjected to the scraping action of a pair of scrapers which excoriate the tomatoes on either side from front to rear to loosen and partially remove the skin. The tomatoes are preferably subjected to a second set of scrapers which also includes a bottom scraperas well as the side scrapers after which the tomatoes are subjected to the action of suction cups which complete the removal of the skin. The skinned and cored tomatoes are thereafter delivered by the conveyor to any suitable receiving means.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for removing slices of predetermined thickness from the top and bottom of each tomato as it passes through the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved slicing knives, and power drive means therefor, for efiiciently removing top and bottom slices from each tomato passing through the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventing tilting of the tomatoes on the conveyor as Patented June 1?, 1958 they move from the upwardly inclined reach thereof to the horizontal reach on which they are carried through the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power operated device for slitting the posterior face of each tomato along a meridian line before it reaches the suction cups which eflect removal of the skin.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for simultaneously slitting the anterior face of each tomato along a meridian line and for scraping loose the skin on both sides of the tomato to partially remove the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for scraping loose the skin of the tomatoes before they reach the suction-actuated skin removing devices.

Another object of the invention is to break the suction applied by the suction cups to the sides of the tomatoes when the cups are retracted so as to prevent the tomatoes being pulled off the conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the length of the suction pipe connecting the cup with the source of vacuum to a minimum so as to likewise reduce the build-up time of the vacuum when the cups are applied to a tomato situated therebetween.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following description the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and preferred form or embodiment of which will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the forward end of the improved tomato coring and skinning machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, perspective View of one of the restraining plates for preventing tilting of the tomatoes on the conveyor.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the forward end of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged left side elevation showing the slitting and scraping devices located to the rear of the steaming chamber.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the rear end of the improved machine.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged right side elevation of the power slitter located immediately ahead of the steaming chamber.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the rear end of the machine.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 88 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 99 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a view showing a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 9 in a moved position.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the gauge plate for the rotary slicing knives.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the suction devices.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts of the machine, the various operating mechanisms of the machine are supported by a main frame including a pair of spaced top rails and 21 (Figs. 1 and 3) and a pair of bottom rails 22 and 23 (Figs. 1 and 9) which lie directly beneath the rails 20 and 21, respectively, and, like those rails, extend throughout the length of the machine. The four aboveenumerated rails extend between a pair of front postsor legs 24 and 25 (Figs. 1 and 3) and a similar pair of rear legs 26 and 27 (Figs. 5 and 8). Several pairs of intermediate legs are preferably spaced along the length of the machine between the two pairs of end legs so as to 3 lend rigidity to the frame. 7 a machine there is also provided a sub-frame lying off to the right of the machine and including four upright posts Ior legs 28 (Fig. 1), a pair of top rails 29 (Fig. 3) and a pair of intermediate rails .30 (Fig. 1).

Power for the machine is supplied from an electric motor (Fig. 5) which is supported on the bottom rails 22 and 23 and is connected to a drive shaft 36 journaled in bearings 37 (Figs. 1 and 5) which are supported on the rails 22 and 23. The shaft 36 drives a speed reducer 38 by means of a V-belt drive 39 (Fig. 1). The output shaft of the speed-reducer 38 carries a sprocket 40 which, through a chain 41, drives a sprocket connected to the driving side of a clutch 42 (Fig. 3). The clutch 42 can be rendered operative or inoperative by a shifting fork 43 which is connected by a horizontal bar 44 with an operating handle 45. By moving the handle 45 inwardly toward theframe of the machine, the clutch is rendered inoperative, whereas by moving it outwardly, it is rendered operative to drive a shaft 46 (Fig. 3) on which a pair of sprockets 47 and 43 are fixed. Sprocket 47 is connected by a chain 49 with a sprocket 50 for operat ing the coring device 51 of the machine. This device forms no part of the present invention and, thereforefis not detailed in the present drawings. For the purposes of this disclosure it may be identical with the coring device shown and describedin Patent No. 2,703,124. Sprocket 48 is connected by a chain 52 with a sprocket 53 fast on an operating shaft 54 which corresponds with the operating shaft 62 shown and described in said Patent No. 2,703,124, and, like that shaft carries a' pair of cams which reciprocate an operating rod 55 once on each cycle of the machine. 7

The inner end of the shaft d6 carries a disc on which is mounted an eccentrically located pin which is connected bya link 61 to an arm 62 (Fig. 1) which is pivoted at one end on a shaft 63 which carries a pair of sprockets 64 that drive a pair of conveyor chains 65. Also secured to the shaft 63 is a ratchet wheel 66 provided with four teeth disposed at equal intervals about its periphery. The teeth of the ratchet are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 67 which is'pivoted to the free end of the arm 62 and urged into engagement with the ratchet by a suitable spring. V j

This pawl and ratchet mechanism provides an intermittent drive for the conveyor so that the tomatoes carried thereby will be advanced step-by-step to the At the forward end of the 1 straightening the tomatoes on the conveyor, three pairs of restraining plates 72 (Figs. 1 and 2) are provided. As best shown in Fig. 2, each plate 72 is secured to a sleeve 73 journaled on an upstanding post or pin 74. The pins 74 are, in turn, supported on a pair of bars 75 carriedby brackets 76 fastened to the top rails 20 and 21. Each pair of plates 72 is provided with a biasin'g'spring 77 for urging the free ends of the plates together. to the extent permitted by stop pins 78 (Fig. 2) which cooperate with pins 79-.projecting from sleeves 73. As shown Fig. 3, there are three sets or. pairs of restraining plates 72, the spacing between each adjacent pair of plates in the direction of travel of the conveyor being approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent The endless chains 65 of the conveyor are arranged side by side in a spaced-apart parallel relation and are connected at evenly spaced intervals by transverse flights 67 (Fig. 8) which form a plurality of tomato-receiving pockets along the conveyor. These flights pick up the tomatoes floating about in the water of a receiving tank 68 (Fig. 1) which is fully shown and described in said Patent No. 2,703,124. This tank forms no part of the present invention and, therefore, has not been included the stern ends will be slightly advanced with respect to the blossom ends of tomatoes. Accordingly,'there will be a tendency for the tomatoes to rock forward away from the flights 67 each time the conveyor stops. In. order to restrain this rocking movement and to assist in flights 67. Also, the length of the plates 72 is such that, as the tomatoes travel along the conveyor, they will be resiliently urged against the seats formed by the flights 67 substantially continuously while traversing the initial portion of the horizontal reach of the conveyor. The three pairs of restraining plates are also preferably so located along the length of the conveyor as to each between apair of side pressure plates 81 which are resiliently urged into contact with the sides of the tomatoes as they come to rest while passing from the coring device to the rotary slicing knives indicatedv generally by refer ence numeral 82. Here a slice of uniform thickness is removed from the top and bottom of the tomato by upper and'lower knives driven from the power shaft 36. As shown in Fig. 9, the shaft 36 carries a friction wheel -83 the periphery of which is in frictional engagement with the face of a driven wheel 89 fast on one end of a shaft 90. Provision is preferably made for shifting the friction wheel 88 "radially of the driven wheel 89, or in the direction of the axis of. shaft 36, so that the speed of the shaft 90 may be controlled as desired by shifting the friction wheel 88. The shaft 90 is journaled in a frame member 91 which is boltedto the bottom rails 22 and 23 as indicated in Fig. 9. A bevel gear 92 fast on shaft 90 drives a vertical jackshaft 93 through a bevel gear 94 meshing with the gear 92. The bottom of'the shaft 93 is journaled in a lug 95 projecting from the frame member 91' while the upper end of the shaft is journaled in similar lugs 96 and 97 projecting from frame members 98 and 99. The frame member 98 is secured to the top rails 20 and 21 while the frame member 99 is supported by legs 100 projecting upwardly from these rails. Secured to the jackshaft 93 just above thelug 96 is' a bevel'gear 101 which'meshes with thebevel' gear 102' secured to a stub shaft journaled in the frame member 98; On the other end of the stub shaft-is a bevel gear 103 which meshes with a bevel gear 104 fast on a vertical shaft 105. The'shaft 105 is journaled in suitable bearings provided therefore in the member 98 andhas mounted on its upper end a rotary knife 106 preferably constructed of stainless steel to better resist the corrosive effect of the acid juice from the tomatoes. As shown in Fig. 9, the bottom knife 106 lies between the chains 65 of the conveyor and operatestoremove a slice of uniform thickness from the bottoms of tomatoes carried by the conveyor. A top slice is adapted to be re moved from the top of each tomato simultaneously with removal of the'bottom slice by the knife 106. This is effected by. an upper knife 107 which is similar to the knife 106'andis secured to the lower end of a shaft 108. The shaft 108 passes through a bore provided therefore in a block 109 (Fig. 10) mounted for vertical sliding movement on a pair of rods 110 depending fromthe frame member 99. The knife 107 and shaft 108 are constrained to move with the block 109 by virtue of a collar 111 which is confined within a slot provided therefore within the block and which is provided with means for securing it to the shaft 108. The shaft 108 is journaled in the upper frame member 99 and is provided with a keyway 112 which receives a pin 113 carried by a bevel gear 114. Thus, the gear 114 is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 108. Meshing with the gear 114 is a spur gear 115 secured to the inner end of a shaft 116 journaled in the frame member 99. Ch the outer end of the shaft 116 is secured a bevel gear 117 which meshes with bevel gear 118 secured to the upper end of the jackshaft 93. Hence, the upper knife 107 is mounted for up and down movement with power continuously supplied thereto in all positions of the block 109.

The thickness of the slice removed from the top of the tomato is controlled by a gauge plate 124 (Figs. 3 and 11). The gauge plate is provided with an adjustable center tongue 125 which can be raised or lowered relative to the plane of the plate by means of an adjusting screw 126 which is threaded into a cross bar 127 extending from one side of the plate 124 to the other. The forward end of the plate 124 is turned upwardly as shown in Fig. 11 so as to present an inclined face to tomatoes approaching it on the conveyor. Accordingly, each tomato approaching the knives will cam the plate 124 upwardly and along with it the block 109 and rotary knife 107. The tongue 125 is formed to lie above the plane of the plate and, since it is this tongue which contacts the top of the tomato as the latter passes therebeneath, the knife will lie somewhat below the top of the tomato so as to remove a slice therefrom. This slice may be made thicker by elevating the tongue by adjusting screw 126, or thinner by lowering the tongue so as to move the latter toward the plane of the gauge and knife. After the tomato has passed through the knives, the knife 107 will drop down to its normal, inactive position as shown in Fig. 9.

After passing between the slicing knives, the tomato will move into position above a power slitter indicated generally by reference numeral 130 (Figs. 1 and 6). As best shown in Fig. 6, this slitter comprises a pointed needle 131 which is clamped between a pair of washers 132 by a screw 133 passing between the upper ends of extension plates 134. These plates are secured to the upper end of a fiat bar 135 by a screw 136. The bar is guided for rectilinear sliding movement in a slotted guide block 137. The block 137 is supported midway between the rails 20 and 21 by transverse supporting members 138 and a pair of spaced supporting plates 139. The block 137 is inclined with respect to the vertical so as to cause the needle 131 to partake of backward movement as it is elevated against the tension of a retracting spring 140. The slide 135 is adapted to be elevated by an operating lever 141 which is pivoted for rocking movement about a pin 142 suspended from the rails 26 and 21. The lever 141 has a nose 143 formed thereon which is adapted to be engaged by a block 144 secured to the operating rod 55. As disclosed in Patent 2,703,124, the operating rod 55 (Fig. 1) is actuated from cams on shaft 4 thereby synchronizing the movement of the rod with the operation of the conveyor 65. The cam arrangement is such that the rod 55 is caused to move forwardly from its Fig. 6 position to its Fig. 1 position, and then return, once during each period of rest of the conveyor chain. Hence, the slitting needle 131 will be raised and lowered during the interval in which a tomato remains positioned adjacent the slitter. During this slitting operation of the posterior face of the tomato by needle 131, the tomato is held down by a pressure plate 147 (Fig. 1) which is pivoted on a rod 148 supported horizontally above the conveyor chain and urged downwardly into engagement with the tomato by a spring 150. A suitable limit stop is provided for preventing undue downward movement of the plate under the influence of its spring when no tomato is therebeneath.

After the posterior face of the tomato has been slit by the slitter 130, the tomato is next carried through a steaming chamber where the skin is loosened from the fluesh of the tomato by the action of steam. The internal construction of the chamber 160 is completely shown and described in said Patent No. 2,703,124 to which reference may be had for an understanding of the same.

After leaving the steaming chamber 160, the tomato next encounters a slitting and scraping device indicated generally by reference numeral 161 (Figs. 4, 5 and 7). As best shown in Fig. 4, this device includes an upper slitting arm 162 and a lower slitting arm 163 both of which have provision on their outer ends for mounting slitting elements 164 and 165, respectively, which, in the present instance, take the form of sharp, pointed needles. The two axle bolts are fastened at their ends on a stanchion 168 which, in turn, is secured to the top rail 21 of the machine frame. The arms 162 and 163 are provided with crank arms 169 and 170, respectively, to which are secured tension springs 171 and 172, respectively, for resiliently urging the free ends of the arms 162 and 163 toward the positions shown in Fig. 4,. this being the normal positions of the arms when no tomato is passing through the slitting device 161. Suitable stops may be provided for limiting the rotation of the arms 162 and 163 under the influence of springs 171 and 172 beyond the positions shown in Fig. 4.

To steady the tomato on the conveyor as it passes through the slitting device 161, a pressure plate 175 is positioned above the conveyor and supported at one end for rotation about a horizontal axis so that the free end of the plate may be caused to resiliently bear against the top of the tomato. As shown in Fig. 4, the plate 175 is pivoted at one end on an axle bolt 175 fastened at one end to an arm 177 secured to the upper end of the stanchion 163. A tension spring 178 stretched between the plate 175 and the frame of the machine resil iently urges the free end of the plate'downward to the extent permitted by a suitable limit stop 179. The plate 175 is suitably apertured, as shown in Fig. 7, to permit the end of the slitting arm 162 to pass therethrough.

In conjunction with the slitting of the skin of the tomato on the anterior face thereof as it passes through the device 161, means is provided for applying a scraping action to the sides of the tomato to thereby loosen the sections of the skin on either side thereof from the flesh of the tomato. For this purpose, scrapers 180 are mounted on the free ends of scraper arms 131 and 182 (see also Fig. 7) journaled on pivot bolts 133 which are carried on opposite ends of a transverse bar 184 carried by the pressure plate 175. The arms 181 and 182 are connected by a tension spring 185 which resiliently biases the scrapers 180 toward one another and toward the sides of a tomato passing through the device. Suitable stop means is provided for limiting the inward movement of the scraper arms 181 and 182 to the extent shown in Fig. 7. The scrapers .180 are provided with serrations or teeth 186 to cause excoriation of the tomato skin as it passes through the device 161.

After leaving the slitting and scraping device 161, the tomato next passes through a scraping device 190 where a further scraping action on the skin of the tomato is effected. This device includes a stanchion 191 mounted on the rail 21 and, supporting at its upper end, a projecting arm 192 to which is fastened an axle bolt 193. Pivoted on the axle bolt is a pressure plate 194 which is urged downwardly by a spring 195 tensioned between.

the plate and the frame of the machine. plate 194, like the pressure plate 175, carries apair of pivoted scraper arms designated 'by reference numerals 196 and 197. These arms are pivoted on bolts 198 supported in the opposite ends ofua transverse bar secured to the pressure plate 194. The arms 196 and 197 are resiliently urged toward one another by a tension spring 21H stretched therebetween so as 'to resiliently urge scrapers 292, mounted on the ends of the scraper arms, into engagement with the sides of tomatoes passing through the device 190.

To provide a scraping action on the bottom of tomatoes passing along the conveyor, the device 190 is provided with a third scraping arm 205 which is pivotally supported upon an axle bolt 206 fastened to the stanchion 191. The arm 205 is provided with a crank extension 207 to which is'fastened one end of a spring 2418 the other end of which is fastened to the machine frame. This spring causes the arm 205 to be urged clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 to thereby cause a scraper 2G9 mounted on the free endof the arm to be urged into contact with the bottom of each tomato which passes through the device 190. Hence, the bottom-as well as both sides of the tomato will be subjected to the scraping action of the three scrapers incorporated-in the device 190 thereby promoting removal of the loosened skin from the tomato.

The loosened skin sections on either side of the to-. mato are completely removed therefrom by means of suction cups applied to opposite sides of the tomato when it is brought to rest therebetween by the conveyor 65. As best shown in Figs. 7 and'8, a pair of rubber suction cups 215' forremoving the skin sections from the tomato are normally disposed in a retracted or withdrawn position'so as to permit a tomato on the carrier 1 to be positioned between them. After the conveyor,

has come to rest with a tomato disposed between the suction cups, movement of the operating rod 55 to its forward position shown in Fig. 5 will causev arms 216 (Fig. 7) pivoted at 217 to be moved inwardly toward the tomato on the conveyor. This movement of the arms 216 is efiected by an element 218 secured to the operating rod 55 (Fig. 5) which carries a pin working in slots provided inthe inner ends of crank arms integral with the arms 216 so as to cause a conjoint movement thereof. Inward movement of the arms 216 will cause the suction cups 215 to be moved inwardly into engagementwith the tomato. Also, as explained in said Patent No. 2,703,124 to which reference is made fora detailed description of the construction and mode of operation of the suction devices, the final inward movement of the arms 216 will cause the cups to contract upon thetomato and provide an airtight seal therewith. The suction appliedto the interior of the cups through tubes 219 causes the skin to be pulled off the tomatoes and drawn through the vacuum system, including tubes 219, into the vacuum tank hereinafter to be described. At its outer end, each tube 219 is connected to one branch of a T 220, the opposite, normally open end of which is closed by a flapper valve 221 pivoted at 222 (Fig. 12) on a bracket'223 attached to the body of the T 220. The valve 221 is normally held closed by a spring 224 tensioned between the valve and a suitable point on the machine frame. The third branch of each T is connected by a short section of pipe 225 (Fig. 8) with a vacuum tank 226 supported on the lower rails 222 and 223 of the machine frame. Air is continuously exhausted. from the interior of the vacuum tank 226 by means of a vacuum pump 227 mounted on one end of the tank and driven by electric motor through a V-belt 228 running on a pulley fastened to the shaft 36. The reduced pressure in the tank is communicated, without interruption, to the suction cups 215 through the pair of short pipes 225 and the pair of tubes 219. a I

The pressure 7 With suction continuously appliedto the cups 215, there is a tendency on the part of the cups to dislodge the tomato from the conveyor when'the cups move apart upon return movement of the operating rod 55 toward the rear of the machine. This is due to the tendency of one or the other of the cups toho'ld on 101116 tomato as the cups move apart thereby pulling the tomato off to one side of 'the conveyor. To'overcome this tendency, the flapper valve 221 is provided on the ends of the Ts 221 to vent the suction cups to atmosphere and break the vacuum thereon when the cups commence to separate upon return movementof the operating rod 55.

As shown in Fig. 12' and as previously described in said Patent 'No. 2,703,124 the forked ends of the arms 216 are each provided with an elongated slot 230 which engages over pins 231 provided on opposite sides of a split collar 232 clamped to an inner sleeve 233 slidable on the tube 211 in this way, movement of the arms-216 by operating rod 55 is transmitted to the sleeves 233. The vacuum cups 215 are each secured to an outer sleeve 234 which is slidably mounted on the inner sleeve 233. Each collar 232 has pivoted thereon at 235 a dog 23.6

the end of which, as shown in Fig. 12, normally engages against the end of the outer sleeve 234 to hold it in spaced relation with respect to the collar 232. The dog 236 is provided with a short crank arm 237 which is pivotally connected with one end of a stop rod 238 the other end of which passes through an aperture provided in a lug 239 projecting from the side of the T 220. The end of the rod 238 is threaded and carries a pair of stop nuts 240 which are adapted'to engage with the lug 239 and limit inward'movement of the rod 238. A compression spring 241' urges the rod 238 inwardly or to the left as viewed in Fig. 12. The threaded end ofthe rod 238 beyond the nuts 240 is positioned opposite the head of an adjustment screw 242 carried by the flapper valve 221.

In Fig. 12, the arm-216 is shown in an intermediate position in which the suction cup 215 has been given its full movement inwardly toward'the tomato on the conveyor. As the arm 216 continues to move toward the left as viewed in Fig. 12, the nuts 240 bearing against the lug 239 will prevent further movement of the rod 238 to the left thereby causing the dog 236 to rock clockwise about'its pivot 235 so as to remove the nose of the dog from against the end of thesleeve 234 and permit.

outer sleeve 234 to remain stationary while inner sleeve 233 continues to move inwardly .with continued movement of the arm 216. This relative movement. between the sleeves causes the cup 215 to contract on the tomato and to e ect a tight seal between the cup and the tomato.

The suction applied to the cup through the tube 219 its related suction cup 215 thereby releasing the tomato.

and permitting the cup to be retracted Without any dislodgementof the tomato on the conveyor.

restore the suction to the. cup 215 in preparation for re,- moval of the skinsection from the next tomato. Also, due to the short length of the pipe .225 which connects the suction cup devices with the vacuum tank 225, the

time required for the vacuum in the tank to be applied.

to the suction cup after the flapper valves 221 are closed is negligible and rapid operation of the vacuum operated skin removing apparatus of the machine is enabled.

While the invention has been described herein in con- When the.

arm 216 again moves inwardly upon forward movement 7 of the operating rod 55, left-hand movement of the rod' 233 allows the spring 224 to close flapper valve 221 to nection with a particular form or embodiment thereof and there has been used, therefore, certain specific terms and language herein, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive and that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims which follow.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful, and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent, is:

l. A tomato skinning machine comprising oppositely disposed radially expandable suction actuated devices for Withdrawing the skin from the tomatoes, a source of reduced pressure, conduit means for connecting said source with said devices, spring-biased valve means in said conduit means for venting the latter to the atmosphere so as to break the suction on said devices upon being moved away from the tomato being skinned, and trip means mounted on the suction actuated devices and movable therewith for tripping the spring-biased valve to venting position.

2. A tomato skinning machine comprising radially expandable suction cups for pulling the skin from the tomatoes, means associated with said cups for moving them to and from the tomatoes, a source of reduced pressure, conduit means for connecting said source with said cups, spring-biased valve means in said conduit means for opening the latter to the atmosphere to break the suction on said cups, and trip means synchronized with said moving means and mounted thereon for opening said valve means when said cups are moved away from the tomato being skinned.

3. A tomato skinning machine comprising a conveyor for carrying the individual tomatoes seriatim through the machine, an intermittent drive for said conveyor to give the tomatoes step-by-step movement through the machine, a pair of radially expandable suction cups disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor for pulling the skin from the tomatoes, means synchronized with said drive associated with said cups for moving them to and from the tomatoes as they are brought to rest between said cups, a source of reduced pressure, conduit means for connecting said source with said cups, valve means for connecting said means with the atmosphere to break the suction on said cups, and trip means actuated by said mov- '10 ing means and mounted thereon for opening said valve means when said cups are moved away from the tomato so as to prevent the tomatoes being pulled ofi said conveyor.

4. A tomato skinning machine comprising a conveyor for carrying the individual tomatoes seratim through the machine, a pair of reciprocating suction cups disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor for removing the skin from the tomatoes when they are brought into position therebetween by said conveyor, a vacuum tank located immediately beneath said cups and conveyor, :1 separate conduit connecting each of said cups directly with said tank a venting means for each of the conduits, and a trip actuated by said suction cups for opening the venting means.

5. The machine of claim 4 in which the venting means is a spring-biased flapper type valve on each conduit adjacent the point of connection of said conduit with said cup for venting the conduit to atmosphere, and cyclically operable means mounted on said cup for opening and closing the valve so as to periodically break the suction applied to said cups by means of said conduit.

6. A tomato skinning machine comprising means for conveying the individual tomatoes seriatim through the machine, a pair of radially expandable suction cups located on opposite sides of the tomatoes as they are carried through the machine by said conveying means for pulling the skin therefrom, means for moving said cups into and out of contact with the sides of the tomatoes as they are moved through the machine by said conveying means, means for applying suction to said cups, springbiased means for venting said cups to atmosphere to break the suction thereon, and trip means actuated by said moving means and mounted thereon for operating said venting means each time said cups are moved away from the tomatoes to break the suction and prevent the tomatoes from being dislodged from the conveying means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,859 Chase et al Dec. 29, 1914 1,403,852 Ensele Jan. 17, 1922 1,490,493 Tenney Apr. 15, 1924 2,443,188 Hodson June 15, 1948 2,703,124 Buck Mar. 1, 1955 

